The internal selection race is one of Tracen's long-standing and very important traditional activities. Through the selection race, Tracen can select talented children within the school and allow Trainers to guide these talented children earlier.
It can be said that if one wants to find a good Trainer, the internal selection race is undoubtedly a very good way. Kagura also attached great importance to this, which is why she proactively offered to assist Fine Motion with special training for the selection race.
On the day the selection race begins, Tracen will also be open to the public. External personnel can enter the campus with a simple registration, so the campus became much livelier today—of course, Kagura felt that the main factor contributing to the increased liveliness was the two groups from the Shopping Street: one group was the Tokyo Shopping Street cheering squad, and the other was the Fine Motion's hometown Shopping Street cheering squad. The voices of these two groups were particularly prominent in the crowd, chatting and laughing, seemingly getting along very well.
Fine Motion registered for the 2000-meter internal selection race, which was scheduled for the morning. The weather this morning was also quite good; it was an overcast day without sun but relatively dry, and the track conditions were excellent.
Because Rudolph Symbol, who is currently the most popular, also announced that she would come to watch the race, the attention of this selection race has been raised to an unprecedented level. Akikawa Yayoi even had to temporarily move the steps to expand the viewing seats to barely seat everyone.
"Don't be nervous, Fine Motion. I have investigated the situation of your opponents. No one can threaten you in this selection race. Believe in yourself, but don't underestimate your enemies. Just run as we did during the special training."
In the waiting area for the contestants, Kagura was giving Fine Motion the final tips and guidance before the match. In fact, the main purpose was to stabilize Fine Motion's nervous mood. Kagura, who had entrusted Tojo Hana to investigate her opponents, believed that as long as Fine Motion could perform calmly, it would be no problem to win this match.
"I understand... To be honest, I... I can't make myself as calm as Kagura. If I didn't have Kagura by my side... even if I signed up, I'm afraid I would have been scared away..."
"Don't think so much, Fine Motion. You just need to know that I am by your side now. Believe in yourself. You can definitely do it."
As she said that, Kagura hugged Fine Motion and patted her back. Fine Motion also nodded and reached out to hug Kagura. She felt the reassuring aura from Kagura, which calmed her down a lot.
"Fine Motion, the Uma Musume for the 2000-meter race, please prepare to enter!"
The announcer's voice came from outside. Fine Motion realized that it was time, so she let go of Kagura. She saw Kagura smile at her.
"Fine Motion, good luck!"
"Okay... I'm going!"
Fine Motion nodded to Kagura, turned around and walked resolutely onto the passage to the stage.
——Oh my, you really care about this child. To have a friend like you is really a great blessing in that child's life.
Eclipse's words appeared on Kagura's phone screen, and then slowly disappeared.
'Miss Eclipse, what do you think of this game?'
——What else is there to see? You've investigated all the contestants. They are all children who are still studying at school, and they don't even have a Trainer. What can they compare with that child? Unless a real genius appears by accident, they really can't lose.
Originally, if Fine Motion had met that rumored genius, it might have been a bit suspenseful, but now there are students on the field who may not have even run a few training matches and don't even have Trainers. Eclipse couldn't imagine how these students could compete with Fine Motion, who had been trained by a formal professional.
After watching Fine Motion leave, Kagura also left from where she came in and entered the audience seat. She thought about where to watch the game. Fine Motion's support group was in the middle of the race, although Kagura originally wanted to go there, she thought again and again, and decided to squat near the final straight.
'It's been so long, I don't seem to have officially cheered for anyone... I'm thinking about what to say...'
...Fine Motion walked from the waiting area to the Racecourse.
For Little Horse Girls, the distance of 2000 meters is still relatively difficult, so generally most of the contestants in the selection Race are in the short distance to mile race. There are relatively few 2000-meter races. This time, there is only one 2000-meter race, which is the one Fine Motion is participating in.
Fine Motion doesn't know any of the participating contestants. Her social circle at school is actually quite small. Besides her classmates, she only knows Kagura. The only person she can really call an acquaintance and friend is Kagura.
'Now that I've come to Tracen, it means I'm a little talented, right? I this time... I should be able to do it!'
Fine Motion looked at the position of the finish line and thought silently in her heart.
I don't know if it was because of some kind of curse, but she would always get third place in exams or competitions, as if she had some kind of bad relationship with the number 3. She didn't remember how long this strange third place had lasted. She had lost her confidence and had no pursuit of first place, until that afternoon——
——Thank you for helping me move things~ My name is Inari Kagura, and I am a maid of the Symboli Family.
The Little Horse Girls she met by chance painted the ordinary world in her eyes with gorgeous colors, and are constantly trying to take her to see more colorful scenery. It seems that the turning point in her life, from being admitted to Tracen to standing on the Racecourse of the selection Race today, seems to be inseparable from this Little Horse Girls.
"The weather today is quite good, and this 2,000-meter race is being held in a good venue..."
The sound of the commentator explaining the condition of the Track came from a distance, but Fine Motion didn't care much.
'Where is Kagura?'
She had already seen her support group, but she didn't see Kagura anywhere, but she believed that Kagura must be watching her somewhere in the audience seat.
Following the instructions to walk into the Starting Gate, Fine Motion concentrated her mind and stared intently at her front.
"Click!"
Along with the crisp sound of the Starting Gate opening, Fine Motion completed the start very smoothly, and steadily followed behind the leading Uma Musume according to the tactical decision Kagura gave her.
"Very good, all the students have completed the start smoothly. This race is also the only 2000-meter race in this selection Race. I hope the students can perform their best."
Listening carefully, Fine Motion realized that Rudolph Symbol was actually commentating on this race. No wonder the voice sounded familiar. She subconsciously looked at the commentary box, but she didn't see the person she wanted to find.
'No, Kagura said that you can't be distracted during the race. You must concentrate on paying attention to your opponents. You must respect your opponents and not underestimate them!'
Fine Motion, who suddenly realized that she was distracted after looking at her for a while, quickly pulled back her attention and focused on the situation around her.
The leading group of Uma Musume were running very loosely, and Fine Motion could easily find a very good breakout route, as long as they maintained their pace.
As for the chase group behind her, Fine Motion hasn't found any Uma Musume trying to speed up and catch up with her for the time being. Currently, she is at the front of the chase group.
"Are the leading students fiercely fighting for the lead? Is this really a good decision?"
Rudolph Symbol saw that the leading Uma Musume were fighting so fiercely for the lead. Although there would be situations where they fought for the lead in professional competitions, the students' physical strength didn't really support their continuous and long-term competition, especially at a distance of 2,000 meters.
"Oh, I feel like the leading children are a little out of control. I hope they can find a chance to catch their breath."
The other commentator, Maruzensky, a girl full of youthful vitality, had already seen the problem with the leading group and shook her head helplessly.
'The leading group is restraining each other and consuming too much energy. They are no longer a threat. The student that Kagura has been taking care of has three fewer opponents.'
Rudolph Symbol, who judged that the leading group would stall halfway, had already removed the three leading Uma Musume from the list of winners. Her eyes moved back a little, and she quickly found Fine Motion at the front of the chase group.
Frankly speaking, Fine Motion's performance was the most satisfying one in this race. The leading group in front was running in a mess, and the chase Uma Musume behind seemed to be suppressed by Fine Motion and couldn't find a chance to break through. Fine Motion had been firmly occupying the top spot in the chase and was biting very close to the leading group.
'The formation in front is so loose. If I were in that child's position, I could easily break through at the third turn, as long as I avoid the stalling leading Uma Musume...'
Rudolph Symbol speculated on the tactical strategies that Fine Motion might use. After all, the chase tactics used by Fine Motion were actually taught to Kagura by her during her daily training. Kagura, who originally only knew how to run away, would definitely not teach that child to run away, so she probably took her set of running methods and changed it.
Halfway through the race, all the Uma Musume had passed the second turn, and Fine Motion also heard her familiar voice coming from the noisy cheers and support in the audience:
"Go for it! Little Soshi!! Charge forward!!"
"Superior Quality Da Jie Tou!! Charge!"
'Ah, it's Mom! And everyone from the Shopping Street!'
Fine Motion felt a throbbing, because Kagura had told her how to run those uphill and downhill slopes on this Racecourse to save energy, so she still had a lot of energy now. Seeing that she was approaching the third turn, she was judging whether she should charge up here.
"Oyster——!"
As she approached the bend, just as Fine Motion found the right position to cut through and break through, the Uma Musume in the leading group suddenly made a sound that shocked Fine Motion. She looked at the movements in front and smoothly avoided those Uma Musume who were exhausted and overtaken according to the method Kagura taught her, but she also lost the opportunity to break through at this bend.
'That was close! Fortunately, Kagura said that this might happen... Damn it, in that case...'
The formation of the leading group changed due to the stalling of the leading Uma Musume just now, and it didn't feel as loose as before. Fine Motion needed to find the next opportunity to break through.
'Before that place, I must break through, otherwise it will be difficult later...'
Fine Motion's eyes were on the last turn in the distance. Now the front is blocked, she must break through as soon as possible, otherwise everyone will not stall on the final straight, then she will be in trouble.
Slightly increasing her speed to throw the chase group further away to prevent a Uma Musume from suddenly Come out, Fine Motion observed the situation in front and continued to maintain her speed to prepare for a breakthrough. Just as she was approaching the fourth bend, the corner of her eye suddenly saw a figure she had been looking for for a long time next to the Racecourse on the final straight——
"Soshi Onee-chan~! Good luck~! !"
'It's Kagura!!'
The small, black-haired Uma Musume waved her arms, tiptoeing and smiling like a real child as she called out to her. Her voice wasn't loud, but Fine Motion could still hear her clearly. That clear, soft voice like a silver bell made Fine Motion's heart skip a beat.
An inexplicable feeling surged from the bottom of Excellent Quality's heart. She seemed to feel a surge of power, and the urge to fight made her instinctively lower her stance—
'I still have so many people's expectations and hopes on my shoulders... I can't lose... and I absolutely won't lose here!!'
"Right here... I'll surpass you all!!"
On the stretch of road just before entering the fourth turn, Excellent Quality found a somewhat risky opportunity. She suddenly accelerated and cut straight through a gap that happened to open up in the leading group, breaking through cleanly.
"You've got to be kidding me!?"
Excellent Quality heard her opponents' surprised voices, but she didn't care anymore.
"Oh!! Fine Motion is accelerating significantly! Just like that, in one fell swoop... Fine Motion bursts out of the leading group!! Taking the lead into the final turn!!"
Rudolph Symbol's commentary followed up in a timely manner. Although the timing of Fine Motion's breakthrough was slightly different from what she had expected, her breakthrough action and choice of opportunity were already very good for a rookie Uma Musume.
"Now in the lead is Fine Motion!! Her pace shows no sign of fatigue! She's still accelerating!! She's entered the final straight and is starting her sprint!!"
"Even someone ordinary like me... has times when I can do it——!!!"
Excellent Quality let out a spirited roar, once again greatly increasing her speed!
"Six lengths, seven lengths...! So fast! Too fast! The gap is still widening!! No one can catch her!!"
"There's no chance left for the other students to catch up! Crossing the finish line!! Fine Motion has demonstrated her overwhelming strength, dominating the race with absolute advantage!!"
As Rudolph Symbol's announcement ended, the results also appeared on the scoreboard next to the Track. Fine Motion, who had just crossed the finish line, didn't stop. While waving her arms to the audience in response to the cheers, she looked at her score.
—A nine-length difference from second place. If she had broken away and accelerated a little earlier, maybe it would have shown a 'major difference' on the board.
"Haa... Haa—I did it... I did it!! I did it!!!"
The panting Fine Motion couldn't bother to catch her breath. She couldn't contain her excitement and raised her hand to the sky, letting out an excited roar.
At this point, the shadow of '3' that had been bothering Fine Motion for years finally disappeared completely from her mind.
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